Has the forum helped you, and if so, how?

[Northerner]

Most of the posts here are from those who post regularly, but there are probably many like me who have found the forum immensely helpful by reading threads without posting much or at all.
I found the forum about a year ago, wish it had been sooner. My control over this time has improved dramatically, partly due to a change from mixed insulin to MDI, but also due to the help I have had from following this forum.
I am impressed by the huge patience and support shown by senior members in answering questions, and by the almost total lack of nastiness that seems to invade other forums.
Now I really will head for the Newbies thread and introduce myself properly!

That's really good to hear silentsquirrel 🙂 I know that the forum is read by far more people than those who register or post regularly - we have in the region of 25,000 visits a month and nearly 200,000 pages read. 'Lurkers' are always welcome! 🙂

 

[gewoff]

I came to this forum some eight years after my initial diagnosis, and have found it very helpful, both as a lurker and occasional contributor, and as others have said, it is rarely judgemental and certainly does not ridicule naiveity, as other Forums can do...... The technical knowledge and advice is for me, as good as any I have received from any professional, and the motivating support beyond compare.....

Additionally I find the moderators active and supportive, and perhaps it is a credit to to them that the 'atmosphere' is so good.......

On the other hand, I do occasionally find misleading headings annoying, and some headings which are neither informative nor relevant, a bit irritating. But nothing of consequence....

Just being a bit provocative, what - if any - changes, would lurkers and contributors like to see?

 

[heasandford]

I'm another who learned more in 6 months on forums about the nitty gritty of BG management than I had in the previous 15-20 years.

Northie is a complete star and there are so many helpful, knowledgeable and friendly faces here that it keeps you coming back even if you don't have any particular questions that need answering at the time.

Wholeheartedly agree with this!!

I have never been on any other forum, so have no experience of nastiness, but this one has nothing but well-natured support, created by excellent moderation I believe.

Prior to finding this I had lost interest in trying to improve my results as no-one provided the nitty gritty practicalities. People on here showed what can be done and my results have improved dramatically since I found the support and knowledge here. I also gained the confidence to push for a pump, further improving life. Long may you continue!

 

[qwertyfan]

although I've only been here for a few weeks, what strikes me most is the shared experience the forum gives.
It means a lot to see other people have been through similar experiences to me, and lived to tell the tale!

 

[grainger]

For me initially it was a wealth of information, knowledge and comfort that I wasn't the only one.

Since, it's grown to be a sounding board, ideas forum, and somewhere that I feel I am accountable for looking after myself. You guys kick me up the butt when needed and provide me with such support when i'm struggling its great.

You lot are also the only other people I know with diabetes

 

[Maryanne29]

I got lots of help before getting my pump and in the first few weeks with it. I didn't know anyone else with a pump so help from people here was fantastic. 🙂

 

[Pinktoes]

Only found this forum this year, diagnosed in 2010, and its fantastically helpfull, no question too silly, and brilliant advise and info. from the more experienced and expert, wish I had found it before. Huge thanks to everyone, long may it continue 🙂

 

[trophywench]

I joined the forum in its early days - it was new and there was hardly anything there for T1 so I didn't really look at it for years. I was already a member of the first "diabetes support" - a Founder member, when the original forum was started having risen like a Phoenix out of the approaching ashes of Diabetes Insight which the owner decided to close just like that and wouldn't allow it to continue with someone else in charge of it. So we bailed out ......

Some of us looked here a bit more closely from time to time. It seemed to be going along nicely but liberally littered with threads with someone posting a problem followed by 2 or 3 pages of 'There there dear' from all and sundry - and very little real HELP!

It used to wind me up, that, but I was too busy to devote time to it and our forum are always busy too. So I didn't look at it for ages.

Then one day more recently I did and have to say this - WHAT an improvement! Because I wasn't around here when it happened I don't know how much of that is down to Northie's influence and how much someone else's. But anyway - diabetics in general all agree - it's SO much better now!

You are a LOT more like 'us' now, and Admin and Moderators - and indeed members - from both are the best of friends.

There are more than enough diabetics in the UK - and elsewhere in the world - to keep us both busy for many years to come and we're all here to do the very same thing - help others in the journey.

And it may interest the Doubting Thomas Brigade who land up as some of our GPs and others in our diabetes teams - that there are MANY members of both forums in the medical profession who are themselves diabetics. I can think of several GPs, nurses and midwives, plus some involvement higher up the scale.

And for whoever said on about Page 1 that DSNs don't have to live with it - do they KNOW that? I mean my DSN isn't diabetic - BUT she sure lives with it every day as her husband is T1 !

 

[AJLang]

Sorry that I haven't posted on this sooner but I wasn't sure where to start about the forum because it has helped me so much and done done so much for me. This is just some of the things. I've made some brilliant friends. There has been so much support during what has been a difficult few years. If it wasn't for meeting Trophywench on here I would never have applied for the pump which has changed my life. Also all of the wonderful posts that have helped me to understand how to use the pump. The forum has provided me with fun and it's nice to chat to people about non- D things. The support has been wonderful, especially when I've got hospital appointments or results....and that is just the start of my list🙂

 

[trophywench]

Thank you Amanda, that's lovely !!

I'm still utterly gobsmacked that your team hadn't pressed one on you years ago - to me, if you are unlucky enough to have gastroparesis then a pump seems a totally obvious choice of treatment. They are 'ideal bedfellows' - except of course having either is never 'ideal' - we'd all rather have (the need for) neither !! LOL

Anyway it seemed obvious to me and I'm no genius - so I don't know why it wasn't previously to the medics.

Stupid.